1. At the time stated in the notice of the hearing, or at the earliest time thereafter to which the hearing may be postponed, the parties to the proceeding shall, except as otherwise provided in this subsection, appear in person before the court and must be informed of the specific allegations set forth in the motion for the termination of parental rights. The court may allow a party to participate in the proceeding by telephone or videoconference if he or she is unable to appear in person because he or she is incarcerated outside this State or hospitalized and cannot be transported to the court.

2. After a party has been informed of the allegations set forth in the motion, he or she may:

(a) Contest such allegations and request an evidentiary hearing, in which case an evidentiary hearing must be scheduled; or

(b) Voluntarily relinquish his or her parental rights with or without the possibility of an open adoption agreement established through mediation pursuant to NRS 432B.5904, in which case a hearing must be scheduled for the purpose of confirming such voluntary relinquishment.

3. If an evidentiary hearing is scheduled pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection 2, the court may also order a party to the proceeding to participate in mediation pursuant to NRS 432B.5904.

4. If a party to the proceeding does not appear at the time stated in the notice and the court determines that he or she was given proper notice pursuant to NRS 432B.5902, the court may proceed to hear evidence and render its decision or postpone hearing any evidence until an evidentiary hearing is conducted concerning any other party to the proceeding.

5. If the court postpones hearing evidence pursuant to subsection 4, further notice to the absent party is required unless the court, in its discretion, considering the facts and circumstances of the case, determines that no additional notice to the absent party is required.

(Added to NRS by 2017, 4069)